Should Tesla have bought Delorean and built this car?

We've taken a Delorean and transformed it into the car it always should have been from the factory. To match the futuristic design we've installed a modern Tesla motor and a battery pack out of a Tesla Model S. Along with the electric drivetrain we've also improved the handling with an aftermarket suspension system from KW. Now the Delorean has finally been bought back into the future.
www.electricclassiccars.com

[@saramark4622]

Definitely the most worthy conversion so far. Turning what was a futuristic car of its day into what it should have always been, a pleasure to drive! Wouldn't it be great to see loads of little MG midget EV's in cities, BGT's cruising the back roads, and old Jaguar Mark 2's eating up the motorway miles. All powered by electricity. Definitely more interesting than the dull grey boxes we currently see.

[@iCampTV]

how much would it cost to own one, i only wish i could have one of that inexchange of PI 🙏

[@NativeMainer53]

I agree with you Sara - and MGB or TR6 with an EV motor would be great.

[@PlaidZoomer]

If Tesla bought DeLorean, they could make the best DeLorean ever with the cybertruck technology. It would be quick, fast ,practical, long range and durable. With the same steel exoskeleton it would stay true to the original design, unlike the new delorean that uses paint

[@PlaidZoomer]

@@alanmay7929 🤨

[@busog97641]

*Agreed!* I used to have a 1966 Ford Mustang until my parents gave it away, with my okay, before anyone started converting older cars to electric... now I do so regret that move.

[@ProjectCamper]

The sound of the motor really suits the DMC12, the best conversion ever for a Delorean, such a shame the technology wasn’t available back in the day. Its totally transformed my favourite car. Lovely.

[@macstar8317]

Not an EV fan but if ever there was a car that was perfect for a conversion the DeLorean is it. Nice job.

[@qbanz00]

The cyber truck

[@scubatrucker6806]

I agree❤

[@josephringling]

Very happy to see the Delorian truly “back to the future” with an EV. Doc & Marty would be proud!

[@MikeyRB77]

Despite DeLorean written dozens of times on this page, you spell it wrong. BRAVO. Regards, your high school English Teacher.

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

I've owned mine since July 2000. There have been some nice engine swaps...but EV is the only conversion that 100% fits the entire lore and ethos of the DMC-12. John Delorean HATED the weezy PRV. He would 100% have made it EV if he started the company today.

[@ckafam]

It’s been said before, but my vote goes to the Citroen DS. There was one dressed as a taxi in Back to the Future 😉

[@rjung_ch]

I'd love one of those with the great suspension. 200kw or less would be more than enough for a fun car indeed.

[@sandersson2813]

I'd love an electric Saab 900 Aero Turbo

[@JP212nyc]

I was going to suggest the DS as well. Not only was it very futuristic, the creators were never happy with the actual engines that were fitted. It should have had a smooth V6, which Citroên didn't have at the time. Of course, a Tesla drive unit would be even smoother so I think a "DeS" would be the perfect combination of heaven.

[@pauljakeman]

Back to the future II 😉

[@ianwatson3315]

What a perfect car to turn into a EV

[@laurieharper1526]

I thought the same thing as I was watching.. Should last for ever with an under-stressed Tesla motor and stainless bodywork.

[@jimsouthlondon7061]

Please convert the 1989 Micheal Keaton Batmobile with the after burner and the grappling hook.Thanks

[@tony_25or6to4]

Definitely. The best conversions are ones that need a new drivetrain. The worst part of the Delorean was the drivetrain. Anti-EV people complain that conversions take away the soul of the car, but the Delorean's soul is in the look. The Delorean is the perfect conversion.

[@harrygregory6227]

thats the worst idea ever

[@silverghini2629]

@@harrygregory6227I can think of many more ideas that are worse than converting a DMC-12 to electric. 😆

[@dl8538]

Pausing halfway through the vid to comment: I LOVE ECC's respect and appreciation of the cars that they're restoring. The choice to install faux tail pipes to maintain the purity of design is such a respectful nod to the preservation and improvement of the source vehicles. Huge thumbs up!!!

[@ElectricClassicCars]

Thanks 😎👍

[@andresilva8444]

I would have put stainless steel bullets instead of fake pipes where the exhaust used to live. If we're talking classic screen cars I'd have to say the K.I.T.T. (with the weird wobbly light in the front too).

[@chargeheadsuk]

Not seen anyone do an electric Kitt yet, however that would be epic 🤓⚡🙏

[@buzzofftoxicblog791]

Or smiley faces need Lazer lights to 😁

[@pet219]

I came here to say KITT as well. DO IT!

[@andresilva8444]

@@pet219 great minds think alike

[@scottcarr3264]

Yeah, that would be awsome.

[@byron3729]

Great Scott! I've been waiting for this video to come out🤩 So happy to see an electric Delorean! Doc Brown would be so proud😁

[@georgedaville4662]

I think this one was a natural for conversion Richard, subtle engineering mods to suspension, with the usual amazing packing of battery packs and drivetrain. Love the new dials, minimal alterations to the interior, the electrically opening doors are the coup d’état for the De Lorean. Well done to the team in producing this fabulous conversion. 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿😎

[@ElectricClassicCars]

Thanks. 👍👍👍

[@Designer_TopG]

@@ElectricClassicCars short answer to your video question YES

[@thorbjrnhellehaven5766]

I totally agree! Tesla powertrain is a perfect match for Delorean!

[@JMGilberto]

John was given the Preston Tucker treatment. They entrapped the guy because going against the US car building titans with anything disruptive was like poking at the mafia. It's a shame. John gave us the Pontiac GTO, and a lot more. While debuting underpowered, one can only speculate what options might have come next, had the company survived. John liked performance cars. Giving one all the gigawatts is just totally appropriate.

[@netgnostic1627]

Very true, he was talking about twin turbos and intercooling. That could have regained the respect factor.

[@dclipper8052]

No, this is not wholly accurate. DeLorean was a willing participant in the coke thing. Moreover, he didn't care about the failing company at that point. He had already been draining its funds to line his and Colin Chapman's pockets. DeLorean was a scumbag.

[@dboboc]

That’s a bunch of crap, Tucker was at fault more than the big 3. People always love a conspiracy theory because to them the truth is boring.

[@NativeMainer53]

There is a company now based in Houston TX that bought all the DeLorean inventory out of the receivership. They have been trying to manufacture the vehicle, currently they restore vehicles and over power improvements. This is another beautiful build by your craftsman. It would be nice if these converstions get closer to a 250 mile range. Here in the U.S. the infrastructure has not kept pace with the availability of EV’s. Another sunny day in Wales.

[@hmk..]

6:42 love the sound the rear bonnet makes when opened . great

[@chipnerd]

What a great build, this really works on all levels. Just like to thank you for the nice chat we had at FoS last weekend, I’m the guy from the Netherlands asking about a conversion for the S1 Elise. Great stuff, keep up the good work!

[@ElectricClassicCars]

Hi. Great to meet you at FOS. 😁👍

[@spudproductions7606]

Hi, great to talk to you at FOS. Keep us posted on developments with the S1. Greatest car ever made ( in my opinion) 👍👍😀😀

[@Clark-Mills]

Great job! love the charge socket under the numberplate; should be considered for new EV models.

[@PaulM745]

During the oil crisis in the early 70s, Corvettes were given hopelessly under powered engines... Perhaps you could convert one of those?

[@adam-g7crq]

Yep Delorean great ev conversion, love to see a Bond Bug converted to electric.

[@miesev5771]

What is there not to like? Everything as it should be and nice added features like remote gullwing doors! Awesome conversion again sirs.

[@MrNineCherries]

Amazing. This car suits an electric conversion sooooo well. The car was so ahead of its time in some ways when it was new (like concept, styling, materials), I mean look at it, it still looks so cool today. 👍🏻

[@Ian.Does.Fitness]

A beautiful car! Always will be!

[@miketejero]

The electric motor is definitely a match for that De Lorean. Great video!

[@spudproductions7606]

👍

[@AkumaFes]

Couldn't stop humming the Back to the Future theme tune through watching the whole video!

[@cmdrdata6553]

Love watching the conversion process of this timeless classic on Vintage Voltage. When will season 3 comes out? Can't wait to see what the team is converting at the workshop. 👍

[@ArtCarFunky]

This one definitely makes the most sense, love it! Sticking with the 80's theme, surely the natural progression from here has to be KITT or Ecto-1 👍

[@Ian.Does.Fitness]

KITT with actual FSD! 🙏

[@garyferrari1366]

This conversation falls right into what Doc Brown would have done, you have brought it right back to the future

[@thuydoan7496]

Finally an original electric DeLorean that truly lives up to its Futuristic namesake.

[@TheSingularNextuz]

That engine was made between Peugeot, Renault and Volvo... PRV And sat in both the 760 and the 780. And it wasn't really a good engine. If got a little bit to hot (not even boiling) the cylinder linings lost the tightness to the block and started slowly to fall down. AND when they catch the crankshaft the engine sounds like it gonna totally blow up.

[@BillyBullshitter]

I was the Head designer on the delorean. I'm so proud of what we achieved On a budget of £26 quid.

[@martinlagrange8821]

I'm guessing you will be fitting the mandatory flux-capacitor behind and between the seats later on ? A great solution, and when SSB's become available, even better in time to come.

[@mouse_cop]

This has been my dream for a long time! And no wonder it’s already been done so well

[@Rebecca_The_Dragon]

I love the old 80s antenna sneaking out the back, makes it looks like a big ole rc car :P

[@aparecidollagejr9580]

So nice the job you've done in this car. Congrats.

[@matsonnerby]

Awsome. I just love this conversion. A real time machine.

[@ShR33k]

That looks awesome - if that car was being manufactured today as an EV I too would definitely get one!

[@JeremyVinny]

I feel like Tesla already has a SICK design. But Delorean is sick too, cool vid.

[@buzzofftoxicblog791]

Cool future with the new era of electric

[@retrotony4119]

I envy you. This is a car I would love to have and you turned it into a EV. Glad to see this vehicle brought to the 21st century properly. Awesome.

[@anthonyxuereb792]

Both the Tesla Cyber truck and Delorean are stainless steel clad. Looking at the profile of the Delorean and the Lotus Esprit both designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, I believe have influenced the Cyber truck to. Yes it's questionable but designers like musicians, look to others for inspiration sometimes.

[@nelsonc6173]

This is what the Delorean should have been from the start! LOL that's an awesome conversion! It's THE perfect combination of future tech and future car! This is awesome! And what you guys did with the gull wing doors is awesome too!!😀

[@AshleyMckendree]

A Mr. Fusion on the back that you hook the charger to would be epic

[@creightonfreeman8059]

I started converting a Pontiac Fiero to electric back in 2008 before Tesla motors were available. I put a Netgain Warp 11 in it with a 1200 amp controller. I also did a custom rebody with carbon fiber hood, sunroof frame, and rear light panel and polycarbonate windows and roll cage so it would meet track regulations. I put kit car "Ferrari" suspension and 11.2" brakes on it. I'd love to see what you would do with a Fiero. I think it would be amazing with a Tesla motor in it!

[@ElectricClassicCars]

Cool. I bet that was quick. 😎👍

[@marcusnicola1221]

this is a car that was crying out for the conversion, i love it

[@B0ldtaar]

I would have add some cool 80s looking digital instruments in the dashboard

[@scottlp2323]

If ever a car was born to be electric, it's the DeLorean. If Marty/Doc Brown had this back in the day, the film would have been quite different as I imagine this one hits 88mph a lot quicker. :)

[@dennisschlieckau8723]

Lotus Frame was known as the “double Wishbone “ The dash board VIN plate was Painted a Matching color on later Production cars because of the reflection.

[@deanwaters]

outstanding! this is going to be big for Delorean owners

[@YOUR_DEATH_8_8]

Literally just had this idea 🤯 and came inside to search classic cars electric conversion and I find the exact thing I imagined 👌🏿

[@statuescher]

If I won the Lottery I’d come to you with a classic Citroen DS. The engine never lived up to the futuristic styling and it would be the perfect conversion.

[@dougowt]

Was looking forward to this one and it doesn't disappoint! As you said, this is how the original should have been. Perfect (except the tailpipes and the reflective tag)

[@joejoejoejoejoejoe4391]

I think some cars suit electric conversion more than others, some need an exhaust note, the Delorean is a car that suits the electric whine more than a petrol engine. I also think a Jag xjs would work well, it's a car to waft along in, in silence.

[@habsom1406]

totally agree with your comment joejoejoejoejoe joe....joe! It does suit the electric whine indeed.

[@JeanPaulRGagnon]

MGB too! kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKCndJmqd5Vspdk

[@jameshisself9324]

Oh a great idea. One of the things this car really needed was a motor upgrade, and with all those gigawatts it should haul ass!

[@ruialbuquerque9558]

Great filming combining the dam with the theme. Thank you so much

[@spudproductions7606]

Welcome👍😀

[@2pi628]

YES! And with a Flux Capacitor as well. That would have been really cool and fun. Not saying the Spaceball referencing isn't, but the Delorean was the quintessential futuristic car. I'm sure the body mold/stamps are still out there. He should buy them and reproduce it. It would sell like hotcakes! I wouldn't cancel my Cybertruck order, I would buy both. 😁

[@kimern68]

DeLorean Motor Company in Texas owns all the production molds and stamps for the DMC-12. But I think they have branched out to two different companies now, Classic DMC who takes care of parts and restoring the classic DeLorans, and DeLorean who have just recently said they will build a new electric DeLoran called Alpha5.

[@keyalpha1]

I freaking love that thing. I wish I could have one. Also one film classic I'd electrify would be the ambulance from Cannonball Run.

[@ElectricClassicCars]

I know someone who's got one with a body lift, it's huge. 😎👌

[@joeg3950]

Absolute fun! Did you take it to 88 mph? 68 Ford Mustang GT, 80 Turbo Trans Am, 53 Sunbeam Alpine Mk1 (To Catch A Thief) beautiful car, so many!

[@eveningstar3230]

All your conversions are excellent! But DeLorean something Else!!!! Fascinating!!

[@bettyswallocks6411]

That was a big one right at the end. Straight off the top, Triumph Stag. Maligned at the time for being ‘underpowered’, supposedly because of all the ‘unneccesary’ gizmos added, like electirc windows (!). The TR4, too, of course, and while your at it, a proper vite Vitesse - ragtop, of course. Any Alfa Romeo or Alfasud. A milk float. And that’s just for starters. There’s a whole evening of conversation and several pints in that one question.

[@jonathantaylor1998]

What an amazing conversion, Richard - you and your team have absolutely pulled it out of the bag with this one...! The DeLorean was such a 'space-age' design back in the 70s, when the rest of us were driving around in Austin Allegros and Morris Marinas...! So, yes, a brilliant choice for conversion, if ever there was one - magic. A question for you, though - do you fit Pedestrian Low-speed Warning noise safety systems to your conversions?

[@ElectricClassicCars]

Thanks. Yes we can fit those. 👍

[@user2C47]

Does the law require an actual speaker, or can you do something more interesting like driving a 400hz square wave into the motor?

[@johnbb99]

@@user2C47 ???????????

[@RobFarley74]

I don't think it'll be long before you'd get some audio modelled engine growl being broadcast from an EV so it "sounds right" too

[@youxkio]

Awesome work with that one, Richard. Thank you for sharing that masterpiece!

[@m.i.andersen8167]

Yes. A very cool Delorean. It should have been built with an electric motor from the start. Perhaps an even more futuristic car that deserves an electric motor; Citroen SM!

[@nunofernandes4501]

Did you keep the original flux capacitor or have you installed an improved one?

[@OlavAlexanderMjelde]

It would look well next to a cybertruck, so it would be fun if they bought the Delorean design and brought it back as a retro EV with modern specs.

[@VesaGuardian]

I would buy that one in a heartbeat.

[@HollywoodF1]

So it will surprise you to know that there are no flat surfaces on a DeLorean. If you lay a straight edge anywhere, in any direction on the car, you’ll find that there is surface entasis. This is a design principle that goes back to Ancient Greece that a master designer like Giugiaro understood. And Tesla designers don’t.

[@anthonypelchat]

@@HollywoodF1 You realize that Tesla makes vehicles other than Cybertruck, right? Only the CT has flat edges. Their lead designer came from Mazda as well.

[@Owen-hg3cu]

Looks so much better than the ugly cybertruck

[@davids2033]

Love to see a Plymouth Prowler EV conversion. They were always chastised for not having V8 power.

[@Ian.Does.Fitness]

Oh this is perfect!!! 🙏💯 Beautiful lines on the car! Always loved them! I was gutted when they went out of business.

[@markwellington1254]

If I was able to convert a car it would probably be a VW Scirocco(USA) but I believe there are not too many of them left. This beautiful car had a futuristic look like the Delorean. Second choice a Ford/Mercury Capri 1974-76. Great Video!

[@pablopicaro7649]

Renault Alpine would be easy parallels to DMC, as similar engine and trans

[@gordonnesbitt2407]

Love these cars as a young man back in the day i fitted the engine and gearbox into them . With the extra power with the Tesla motor is the oversteer fixed .

[@ElectricClassicCars]

It handles a lot better now. 😎👍

[@michaelj7069]

Absolutely perfect. It sure does warrant an electric conversion. Well done. I really don't know how I originally missed this video.

[@ElectricClassicCars]

Glad you liked it!

[@habsom1406]

Looks very cool as it wafts along. This is what this car was waiting for all these years, it's been in a state of stasis until now. The low down torque of an electric motor is precisely what that heavy stainless steel body requires. I was wondering how he was going to close that gullwing door once he was behind the wheel, I couldn't see a pull strap. Oh and my little Peugeot 1007 also has remote fob operated electric doors from the factory, ha! Great video!

[@Markver1]

Opportunity missed with the dual tailpipes. Twin Tesla Not-A-Flamethrower™ You’re welcome.

[@UltraviewXLimited]

Loved speaking to you and seeing this car at Fully Charged Live 2022 at Farnborough.

[@ElectricClassicCars]

Thanks. Great to meet you too. 😁👍

[@DoTablicyCHEMIA]

I love DeLorean design :) Great job !!

[@orbitaljellyfish808]

Love it. And would add a flux capacitor! The Bandit trans-am could use some juice

[@buzzofftoxicblog791]

YES

[@breakshot7451]

at least i had to put some power cables in these famous Y shape in the car;))

[@anthonyrawsthorne656]

Noooo 😱

[@christopherhamilton5557]

Beautiful conversion! Looks fantastic inside and out. What’s the 0-60 (0-100 kph)? I would imagine 6 seconds or less. And, I’ll say it, that buzzer gotta go! At least change it to a chime of some sort. 😂

[@buzzofftoxicblog791]

I think back to the future definitely PLAD power

[@TheGramophoneGirl]

11:04 That is how a Delorean should look and sound when driving.

[@Sbrillo43]

delorean dmc-12 it's the most futuristic car ever for its time. It's very incredible.

[@zapfanzapfan]

If you plug 1.21 GW into it you recharge to 100% in 1/4 second... then make sure to pull the plug out fast... :-)

[@6996brandyl]

I like that you left the exhaust tips, that makes it like a street-sleeper, someone seeing the tips might think it;s the underpower 2.8

[@buzzofftoxicblog791]

🤣🤣🤣 good point

[@computerjantje]

I think the Delorean is the perfect car to make electric. It fits the 'back to the future' feeling to have a Delorean with electric engine.

[@BritanniaMotorcycles]

I had a gull wing door on my Bond Bug. I got soaked getting in and out if it was raining.

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

There has been talk for many years about rebooting the DeLorean with an updated look and even with an electric drivetrain if I remember correctly. Seems like a perfect candidate for crowdfunding! The engine on the original DeLorean is definitely its Achilles heel. Not only was the power anemic, but those that worked on "Back to the Future" say that it was extremely unreliable. They were constantly working on it supposedly. In any case, this is an excellent example of an improvement on a classic car by converting it to electric. Well done!

[@DanieleElaborati]

It actually has been announced at the end of May . I can't link you to the source due to google policy but a quick google search will bring up the articles. It's still a prototype, an alfa state project, but it's promising.

[@buzzofftoxicblog791]

Agree

[@dcanmore]

and yet the same engine was in US market Volvos and were very reliable.

[@2pi628]

I can only imagine the great Easter eggs to be found... Verbal alarms, actions,events : "Great Scott!" , "1.21 Gigawatts", “If My Calculations Are Correct, When This Baby Hits 88 Miles Per Hour, You're Gonna See Some Serious S***.”, “Why Don’t You Make Like A Tree And Get Outta Here?”, “I Guess You Guys Aren’t Ready For That Yet. But Your Kids Are Gonna Love It.”....etc.. 🔥

[@stejac51]

... I have to ask just how you managed to hide the 'flux capacitor' so very well ?

[@CynicalKnight]

A 1970's Cadillac Eldorado convertible. In Jennifer Blue. It already has a flat floor, you could fit a huge battery pack under there. Make it 2 or 3 motor 4wd and it will win some races.

[@zarkomx]

Very Interesting thought. Same thing passed to my mind wend I saw the cyber truck for the 1st time

[@MacSaxe]

Oh wow, this would be a dream car. Do you source and build? And if not what's an approx conversation cost if the base car is in half decent condition? Thanks!

[@rogermckenzie2711]

I can't help but think the Delorean may have had some influence on the Cybertruck.

[@ElectricClassicCars]

Definitely. 😎👌

[@sylviosworld.]

That car should be electric from the beginning! So fitting!

[@davejoson1100]

Definitely The Best Delorian EV Conversion I Have Seen Yet, Great Job On Keeping The Exterior & Interior The Same! Too Bad The New 2024 EV Delorian Doesn't Look Like The Original 😢 Why Did They Ruin It 💩

[@LG123ABC]

Great job on the conversion. I think it would have been cool if you could have swapped out the hood (bonnet) for one of the older ones that had the little fuel filler door in it. That would have made a great spot for the charge connector. I'm also not a fan of replacing the shift lever with a knob. I know that a lot of modern cars have gone with some type of knob, but I still like the feel of grabbing a console-mounted shift lever to control direction -- even for an automatic transmission. Could an old style shifter have been wired up to some type of electronic controller? I wouldn't mind seeing an electrified version of the Bullitt Mustang that was driven by Steve McQueen or even an electrified version of the General Lee Dodge Charger from the old Dukes of Hazzard TV show.

[@MarekReinsch]

old American steel convertible or some vintage stuff from 40-50's would make a great conversion. Plenty of space but lot of work due to new chassis required to hold the torque.

[@bradevans7935]

Most of those old US convertibles, at least those made in the 40's and 50's, use body-on-frame construction so it could be a relatively easy conversion. Probably the easiest way would be to use an aftermarket frame - something that is already done in the ICE hot rod and custom car world. Typically the aftermarket frames are already boxed and braced to take the power and torque from heavily modified ICE engines. If the frame were already set up to take an electric motor and batteries, it would be a simple matter of unbolting and lifting the body on a hoist, roll the new frame in place of the old one, drop the body down on the new frame and bolt everything back together. If it was all thought out beforehand, it could be done in a matter of hours.

[@Sniffy1975]

Well another screen classic from the 80's is a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am as used in Knight Rider.. that would be an awesome EV conversion.

[@desh9121]

Love that idea makes better sense being able access hydro power generator plug up's not every place has or think about that as alternative.

[@Mike_Costello]

Gee that's gorgeous! I've seen a few static pictures of these but that Tesla drive makes it so sweet on the road!! That's a massive battery pack in there too. 315km of range is nuts!!

[@nathanhouston4769]

What a great build. With an ev platform and suspension upgrades these should sell quite well.

[@jamesfrench7299]

What a fantastic idea for the DMC-12. It took 40 years time travel into the future to achieve it. Not MrFusion but not bad.

[@ZakiWasik]

Citroen SM would be a brilliant candidate for conversion!

[@williamscheuerman1867]

I love the dream coming to life here. I kind of want to know how to do such a conversion because gas prices here in the US are making electric seem much more appealing, but I also love old cars.

[@marcbee1234]

That's why gas is going up, it's a planned event to go all electric EV's.

[@72mardy]

Thanks Moggie 👍 Been waiting to see this one and it's brilliant! I know you always try to keep the weight around the same as the original, but how did you go with the weight distribution?

[@qbanz00]

I just saw a Delorean at my job the other day. Original

[@100percentnothing]

Well in case your battery runs out and you strand on the road with no charger in sight you could always park yourself in front of a train to reach those magic 88mph! Also as some else suggest, getting your hands on a '82 Trans Am would be an awesome next step to take!